Machine for preparing heels for boots and shoes



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. FISHER.

MACHINE FOR PREPARING HEELS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

Patented Sept. '13, 1881.-

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. FISHER.

MACHINE FOR PREPARING HEELS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

No. 246,945. Patented Sept. 18,1881.

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MACHINE FOR PREPARING HEB-LS FOR BOOTS AND $11053. 'No. 246,945. Patented Sept. 13,1881.

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(No Model.) '4 SheetsSlieet 4.

E. FISHER.

MACHINE FOR PREPARING HEELS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES. No. 246,945. Patented Sept. 13,1881.

ilNrTnn STATES PATE T Grates.

EDWIN FISHER, ()F WORCESTER, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES W. BROOKS,

TRUSTEE, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR PREPARING HEELS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 246,945, dated September 13, 1881.

Application filed January 31, 1881.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWlN FIsHER, of Worcester, county of Worcester, State of Massachusetts; have invented Improvements in Machines for Preparing Heels for Boots and Shoes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying draw ngs, is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in the construction and organization of a machine for preparing heels or heel-blanks for boots and shoes, the object of the invention being to provide practical and efficient heel compressing and punching mechanisms adapted to compress and condense the heels laterally by movable side pressers or dies, and also vertically by pressure applied at the top and bottom of the heel-blank. The nail-holes are punched in the compressed heel blank without changing the position of the blank in the dies. The pressing dies and plates and gang of awls are so constructed as to be readily and conveniently changed for those of other sizes, according to the size and shape of the heel to be produced.

My improved machineis inexpensive incost, is simple, may be easily kept in order, and may be operated by unskilled operatives.

Prior to this my invention heel-blanks have been forced into a solid die having an opening of heel shape; but in my machine the dies forming the walls to rest against the sides of the heel-blank or heel are made laterally movable toward and from the center of the heel, and the latter is compressed by direct lateral movement before it is compressed vertically, whereby I am enabled to make a heel with smoother sides, for the edges of the heel-lifts, or pieces of leather employed in the heel-blank or heel, are not curled up and rounded, as is often the case when forcing the lifts into a fixed die-cavity having the shape of a heel.

The features of construction and operation peculiar to my invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and explained in the following description, the particular subjectmatter claimed being hereinafter definitely specified.

Figure 1 represents a front view of my improved machine for preparing heels for boots and shoes. Fig.2 is a vertical transverse sec- (No model.)

tion taken through the bed, the pressing-plate, punching devices, and operating-shaft at line 00, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar section through the shaft and pressing-plunger at line y, Fig. 1, showing the operating-cam and the devices for retaining the pressing-plate in position on the follower. Fig. 4 is an end View of the machine, showing the cam and devices for operating the side-pressers. Fig:5 is a vertical transverse section at line 2:, Fig. 1, showing the intermittently-acting clutch and startinglever. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the startinglever devices. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view on a larger scale, showing the pressing and punching mechanisms, with the matrix closed and punching-awls driven down into the same. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section of the pressing and punching plungers. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the machine complete. Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view, showing plan of sidepressing dies and bed. Fig. 11 shows details of bottom plate. Fig. 12 shows details of the pressing-plate; and Fig. 13, details of the driving-gear and its pin to co'operate with the slidingpin, to be referred to.

In this my improved machine for preparing heels I employ a slightly-yielding bed-plate, upon which the heel is placed to be compressed. Above this bed-plate, and moving along its surface, are a pair of laterally-moving pressing-dies having faces of suitable form to impart the desired shape to the sides of the heel. These dies are forced inwardly bysuitable diemovers, (shown as wedge-shaped i'ollowers,) and are so supported as to be depressed with and follow the yielding bed plate. Above these side-pressing dies, and moving perpendicular thereto, is a plunger carrying a perforated pressing-plate having a projecting dieface of the size and shape of the heel-face, the die-face being arranged to enter the space between the side-pressing dies. Arranged Within or on this pressing plunger or follower is an auxiliary plunger or follower carrying a gang of awls for punching the nail-holes in the heel. In suitable position above or adjacent to the said parts is an operating-shalt provided with a series of cams, eccentric, and rolls suitably arranged to impart the required motion to the side-pressing dies and to the top-pressin g and punching followers, the said shaft having combined with it intermittingly acting clutch mechanism to start and automatically stop the said shaft.

In the operation of the machine herein described it is preferable to first close in the pressers against the heel-blank, then to compress the heel at top and bottom, and then to punch the nail-holes therein but this relative order of action may be "aried without departing from the spirit ofmy invention.

In the present embodimentof my improved machine, A denotes the main frame or table supported on suitable legs and provided with suitable standards, a, which form the supporting guides and bearings for the workingparts of the machine.

B denotes the bed or plate for the heel-seat end of the heel, the said bed being arranged within an opening formed through the central part of the table A, (see Fig. 2,) and resting upon a yielding support or bolster composed, in the presentinstance, of a series of wooden bars, B, of different lengths, (see full and dotted lines, Fig. 1,) the lowest bar being supported near its ends on transoms orcross-bars B suspended by rods or bolts B from the table A. The bars B have sufficient rigidity to insure the requisite resistance or pressing force to the heel, and at the same time they are sufficiently elastic to allow the support or bolster to yield in case of excessive strain by reason of thickness of the material being compressed vertically, thus avoiding injury to the mechanism by placing an over-thick heel between the bed and platen, to be described.

0 represent the movable side-pressing dies or formers, adapted to operate directly against the sides of the heel-blanks. These dies are connected with laterally-moving slides or diecarriers 0, arranged to be forced inwardly by die-moving devices, (shown as inclined followers G which are worked up and down between suitable guides on the standards a and bearing-blocks a by means of the cams Don the operating-shaft D. The dies (J, made to correspond in size and shape with the particular heel to be compressed,are connected with the carriers (3 by an ofiset-joint and a lock ing-pin, 0, so that by raising such pin 0 from the dies the latter may be quickly detached from their carriers and dies of other size and shape be used instead. The pin-connection of the dies 0 with their carriers enables the said dies to descend freely below their carriers and follow the yielding movement of the bed-plate B, the latter being of such size that the dies 0, when fully closed together, rest above its surface. The dies are guided and kept from rising by means of aback rib and flange-plate, d, attached to the table A. (See Fig. 10.) Springs C serve to draw the die-carriers outward when the inclined followers 0 are raised by the action of the cam-rolls and lifters (3*, (see Fig. 4,) provided for that purpose.

Mechanism otherwise constructed might be employed, in lieu of the inclined followers, for

forcing inwardly or closing the side-pressing diesas, for instance, a knuckle-jointed arm or a swinging lever; but I prefer the follower. The tops of the followers, where they are acted upon by the operatin g-oams, are provided with rolls 6, in order to avoid friction between the parts.

E represents a plunger, arranged to work in suitable guideways at the inner sides of the standards a. This plunger is depressed by the cams D on the shaft D, which force it downwardly to compress the heel vertically, or from its top to its bottom, and raised by the camrolls and lifters E The top-pressing plunger E carries at its lower end a platen or pressingplate, E, provided with a projecting die-face, 0, corresponding in shape with the form desired for the face of the heel, the plate and die-face being perforated or provided with holes for the passage of the punching-awls, the die-face enterin g and preferably exactly filling the space between the side-dies U when the latter are closed together, as in Fig. 7. The pressingplate E and its die-face willcorrespond in form with the particular form or size of heel to be pressed, and will befurnished with side grooves to receive boldin g-sprin gs 0, whereby the plate E may be quickly attached to or detached from the reciprocating follower E, dowel-pins c", in dotted lines, Fig. 7, preventing lateral movement of the plate E. This manner of connect ing the pressing-plate with the plunger permits it to be readily and conveniently detached and another one applied for heels of adifferent size.

Above the perforated pressing-plate E, and embraced within the plunger E, I have placed a second or awl-carrying plunger, H, which carries the gangof awls I, that pass down through the perforations of the pressing plate and punch or prick in the heels holes for nails. This awl-carrying plunger H is operated by an eccentric, D, on the shaft 1), which is embraced by a proper eccentric-yoke, H, attached to the said plunger, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The gang of awls I is held in a plate, m, fitted into grooves prepared for its reception at the lower end of the plunger H, where it is secured in place by a screw-bolt, h, or other suitable fastening device, a thin solid plate of metal being placed above it, to prevent the awls from being driven back through the plate m.

By loosening the bolt h the awl-plate m may be readily removed from the plunger when it is desired to change the gang of awls for heels of a different size.

A heel-seat die, F, to impart the required shape to the heel-seat, is placed upon the bedplate B and held in place by dowel-pinsf,(sec Fig. 11,) and upon this die the heel is placed and supported while the side-dies and top presser are actuated to compress the said heel. These plates F are made interchangeable to accommodate heels of different sizes.

G indicates a swinging bar pivoted to the table A, and provided with adetachable breastblock, a, which serves to close the front of the matrix, while a second pivoted bar, G, is arranged to swing against the end of the said bar G for looking it in position. (See Figs. 9 and 10, in which latter the dotted lines indicate the position of the said bars when the matrix is opened for inserting or removing a heelblank.)

The operating-shaft D is provided with a loose driving gear, K, which meshes with a pinion, L, fixed upon the driving-shaft L, arranged in suitable bearings along the back of the machine, and provided with a heavy balance-wheel, L and a pulley, L to receive the belt, by means of which the motive power is transmitted to the machine.

Fixed upon the shaft D, at the side of the loose gear K, is a clutch, M, the mechanism of which is adapted to automatically throw off or stop the shaft D after each revolution. Said clutch consists of a disk, M, furnished with a sliding pin or dog, 1), a spring, 8, to force the said pin 19 inward to engage with a corresponding pin,p or lug (see Fig. 13) on the side of the gear K, and of a lever, P, having its fulcrum on the disk ll and rotating with the said disk, the lever forcing back the spring 8 and withdrawing the pin 19 to trip the clutch.

A slide-piece, B, provided with a curved flange, R, to engage the end of lever P, provided with an inclined surface, is arranged to be moved up and down in suitable guides at the side ofthe adjacent standard a of the framework. A spring, T, is provided to elevate the said slide 1%, and a hand-lever, V, to depress it. When the slideR is depressed by hearing down the hand-lever V the flange R is removed from below the end of the tripping-lever P, permitting the spring 8 to force forward the pin or dog 1), which thus locks the disk M to the gear K, and the latter, being continuously revolved by the driving-shaft, causes the revolution of the operating shaft D and the actnating'cams, which move the pressing and punching devices. When the lever V is relieved from strain the spring T elevates the slide R so that its flange R engages the end of the tripping-lever P, which, striking the inclined portion of said flange, is operated to withdraw the pin or dog 1), thus releasing the clutch from the gear K and arresting the motion of the shaft D.

If preferred, the slide B may be worked by means of a treadle, in lieu of the hand-leverV.

In the operation of my machine the attendant opens the front of the matrix. by swinging back the bar Gr; places the heel-blank (the several lifts of which have been previously nearly out to form and tacked together in the ordinary manner) upon the bed or seat plate; then swings back the arms G and G to close the front of the matrix; then the startingleverVis depressed to put the operating-shaft D and its several cams into action. The sidedies U are then closed upon the heel, forcing in the edges of the lifts thereof by a direct or straight action, which compresses, but does Y of awls I descend and prick or punch the holes for nails, and as the shaft Dcompletesits revolution the dies and gang of awls recede to their former positions, where they remain until the starting-lever is again depressed. As the awls rise the heel is stripped from them by the pressingplate E and left in central position upon the bed 'or seat plate, from which it is taken by the attendant, and a fresh blank substituted.

It will be observed that the cams are shaped to afford a continuance of pressure by holding the dies closed for a time, thus giving a more permanent set to the material compressed than would be effected by mechanism wherein the pressure was applied bya crank-stroke, which quickly relieves the dies and permits a recoil of the compressed fibers of the heel. The heel is pressed and pricked at the same motion of the shaft U, a single heel only being in the machine, the result of which is that the work is quickly done, and but little power is required to run the machine.

The dies and awls for different-sized heels can be changed in from one to two minutes time, and theinterchangeable parts can be made at comparatively slight cost.

I claim- 1. In a machine for preparing heels,thecombination, with a supporting-bed and reciprocating pressing-plunger, E, and plate E, adapt, ed to first press the heels vertically, of an independently-acting plunger provided with a gang of awls and working within said pressing-plunger, substantially as set forth.

2. In an organized machine t'orpressing heels, the following instrumentalities, viz: the heelsupporting bed, reciprocating pressin g-plun ger and perforated pressing-plate adapted to compress the heel vertically, the punching-follower provided with a gang of awls which are projected through the perforations ot' the said pressing-plate,land an operatin g-shaftprovided with cams adapted to actuate the pressingplate and punching-plunger independently, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The heel-support combined with the movable'concaved side-pressing dies (3, which are closed at suitable times upon the heel-sides to embrace the sides of, compress the heel laterally, and outline the shape of the heel, substantially as described.

4. In a machinefor preparing heels, the toppressing plate and follower and heel-supporting bed, combined with the horizontally-movable side pressers or dies 0, adapted to compress and shape the heel laterally by direct action against the edges of the lifts, substantially as set forth.

5. In a machine for preparing heels, the heel-- supporting bed, perforated top-pressing plate and plunger, and connected projecting diefaoe, combined with the punching-plunger, working within the said pressing-plunger, and its gang of awls, and with the laterally-moving side pressers ordies O,substantially asset forth.

6. In a machine for pressing and punching heels, the combination, substantially as described, of the heel-supporting bed, the pressing-plunger, and plate, and die-face to compress the heel vertically, the punching-plunger and its gang of awls,the rotating shalt D and connected parts to actuate the said pressing and punching plungers at the proper times, and clutching mechanism automatically actuated to release the driving-gear to run loosely on the said shalt at the completion of each rotation of the said shaft or the completion of each heel, substantially as set forth.

7. In a machine for preparingheels, the heelsupporting bed, the side-pressers U, or dies to compress and outline the heel laterally, and means to close them upon the sides of the heels, combined with the pressing plate and plunger, and means, substantially as described, to operate the said plunger and hold or retain the pressing-plate down upon the compressed heel sufliciently long to set the leather, substantially as set forth.

8. In a machine for preparing heels, the combination, with the side-pressing die or dies O, of the (liecarrier (3, the inclined follower G and actuating-cam D, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. The combination, with the die carrier 0 and yielding supporting-bed B, of the looselyconnected side-pressing die 0, whereby the side-pressing die is permitted to move vertically with or follow the movement of the yieldin g supportingbed, substantially as set forth.

10. In a heel-making machine, the combination of the pressing and punching mechanisms, the operating-shat't provided with cams for actuating the same, the driving-gear K, the clutch M, with locking-pinp and tripping-lever P, the slide-piece R R, and starting-lever V, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

11. The combination, with the pressing plunger and plate and the cams for giving pressure to the same, of the lifters and rolls 0* or E substantially as and for the purposes shown and described.

12. The pressing-plate E, provided with dowel-pins and side grooves, and the retaining-springs e, in combination with the plunger E, as and for the purpose set forth.

13. The swinging arm Gr, provided with detachable breast-block n and the locking-bar G, in combination with the side-pressing dies and heel-supporting bed, substantially as and for the purpose stated.

14. The combination and relative arrangement of the tableA, standards a, plungers or followers E and H, operating-shaft D, cams D eccentricD and yoke H,substantially asshown and described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWIN FISHER.

Witnesses:

G. W. GREGORY, W. H. SIGSTON. 

